Safe haven | Rick Grimes

019. FIND A PLACE TO STAY

Chapter nineteen

"Find a place to stay."

It had been a long, brutal winter. They had spent months moving constantly from place to place, never finding the sanctuary Rick had promised—a place they could fortify and truly call their own. Every time they found a temporary shelter, it was only a matter of time before the walkers caught up to them, forcing them back onto the run.

Approaching a derelict house, Rick and Scarlett led the way. T-Dog moved up right behind them, followed closely by Daryl and Carl. Rick and Scarlett exchanged a brief, silent look of understanding. On a shared count of three, they lunged forward, kicking the front doors off their hinges. Two walkers stumbled into the entryway, but Rick and Scarlett fired in unison, dropping the creatures instantly before pushing deeper into the house.

Carl ran ahead, clearing the immediate hallway and stepping aside to let Rick and Scarlett pass. To their left lay a darkened kitchen. Rick extended his hand, and Scarlett seamlessly passed him a flashlight. Keeping their movements tightly coordinated, they headed straight toward a closet door at the end of the hall.

Finding nothing inside but another door, Rick paused and looked back at Scarlett. She gave him a sharp nod, keeping her gun raised and steady. Rick gripped the handle and yanked the door open. On the other side, Daryl stood in the shadows, his crossbow already aimed directly at them. Recognizing each other, they all lowered their weapons with quiet nods.

Scarlett turned and retraced her steps down the hall, with Rick following right on her heels. They stepped back into the kitchen, where Carl was already systematically ransacking the cabinets in a desperate search for food. A moment later, the back door rattled open, and Glenn and Maggie slipped inside, their weapons at the ready.

Seeing that the house was clear, Rick and Scarlett turned and walked back out toward the front door. Glenn and Maggie fell into line behind them. Stepping onto the porch, Rick let out a sharp, low whistle to signal the rest of the group that it was safe to come inside.

Carol and Beth walked into the house, followed by Hershel and a heavily pregnant Lori. As they filed into the living room, Rick and Scarlett closed the heavy front doors behind them, shutting out the cold.

T-Dog immediately took up a position by the left window, peering through the cracked blinds. Scarlett and Rick walked over to the right window, scanning the overgrown yard. For the moment, the perimeter looked clear.

Behind them, the sharp click of a metal can opener echoed through the quiet room. Rick and Scarlett turned around to see Carl sitting on the floor, eagerly opening a can he had scrounged from the kitchen. Rick walked over, looked down, and snatched the can from his son's hands. When he read the label—Dog Food—a flash of anger and defeat crossed his face. He threw the can violently across the room, where it clattered against the wall.

Scarlett turned back to the glass, her eyes catching movement in the tree line. A small group of walkers was already limping up the driveway.

"Psst," Scarlett hissed, signaling the room.

The warning was all it took. The group silently scrambled to their feet, abandoning the house and heading straight for the back exit. Daryl slipped out the door first to clear the path, followed closely by Glenn, Maggie, T-Dog, Lori, Carol, Beth, Carl, and Hershel. Scarlett and Rick brought up the rear, keeping their weapons trained on the shadows. They raced across the backyard, piled into their battered vehicles, and tore away from the house just as the dead reached the porch.

Once they had put enough distance between themselves and the walkers, the caravan pulled over on a deserted stretch of road to regroup. Glenn and Maggie spread a worn paper map across the hood of their car. Hershel, Scarlett, Daryl, and T-Dog crowded around it, looking up as Rick walked over to join them.